Mills Isaac. Mills Isaac. Mills Isaac.
1904-Current
Written by Ross Mills
The Mills’ family story about farming in this area started in 1904 when Isaac Mills took up a selection at Yellanup Soak (Kwobrup – where Chris Garlick farms now). Originally from South Australia, Isaac ended up with land that now would include the farm on the corner of Nagel Road (Dolan’s) and I also understand the property where Warrick Browne now lives. Isaac had five sons and five daughters. The eldest son was my grandfather, William John Mills, who was born in 1875. Another son, Edward (Ted) built and lived in the Nagel Road brick house. During WW1, with his sons away, and his wife Catherine having died, Isaac sold his farm and went to live in Katanning.
William and Maria Shields (nee Goodall) had eight children: John William (Jack), Wilfred James, Florence Grace, Margaret Evangeline, Rupert Victor Goodall (Vic), Irene Marie, Lionel Edward and Lancelot Norman Murray (Lance). During 1906 William came west and selected land in the Nampup area. I understand some sons stayed here and he returned to Victoria to collect the rest of the family. On Christmas Eve 1908 the family arrived in Albany by boat. They farmed at Durrunnook (currently Bevan and Robyn Badger’s farm). Maria Shields died on 29th July 1912. She was buried on Durrunnook prior to Nyabing having a cemetery.
On 10th February 1911 William John Mills (Bill), married a local girl, Irene Marie Shields (Pa and Grandma). I have the toasting fork he made the day after his wedding, so they could have breakfast. Pa and Grandma then leased a property at Broomehill called Eticup. My father Wilfred Gordon Goodall Mills (Gordon) was born on the farm in 1912. Three more children followed: Doris Marie, Lancelot William, and John Francis. Pa left for France (WW1) from Broomehill. On his return he was unable to buy Eticup, so he searched for a place of his own.
Dam sinking at Nyabing
This is the farm that now belongs to Gordon Mills. The late Jack Shields besides horses, the house is standing on “Marema”
Dam sinking at Nyabing
Dam sinking style with “modern” machinery
In 1924 they shifted to the current farm in Nyabing, next door to Grandma’s father (William Shields) and family. Vic Shields originally owned our farm but it was abandoned as his wife couldn’t stand the isolation. The lease was signed as at the 1st January 1925. I still have the original document. All clearing and development was done by hand. An acre a day was a good day’s work. Pa’s prize possession was his axe. These days we do not own a decent axe and don’t have the skill to use it. In 1928 Pa and Dad bought the first motor vehicle on the farm. It was a Chev 4 truck that carried 20 bags of wheat. As registration plates were issued numerically, our plate was KT 92, and our truck retains this number.
Gordon Mills bringing in the hay.
Ploughing at W.G. Mills
Another old Nyabing family name comes into the story! Will Jury came over from South Australia in 1911 to work for a relative, John Henry Manuel. His sweetheart Clara Maude Sincock followed. They planned to marry and to generate a more consistent income he left Nyabing and joined the W.A. Police Force. They later married in Roebourne in 1914. Roy Melville Jury followed his brother (Will) to Nyabing about 12 months later. Roy worked around the district, and in 1923 took up “The Crescent” as the original Jury family farm. This farm had earlier been abandoned by Mr EH Elliot. Barry Mills now lives in the extended original mud brick house.
Lance Shields did not take up a farm around Nyabing as some of his brothers did. Instead he chose to farm at Beacon. At the age of 14, during the depression, Lancelot William Mills rode his push bike to Beacon to work for his uncle. Can you imagine riding this distance on dirt tracks?
Lancelot William & John Francis Mills off to WW2
Lancelot William and John Francis Mills went to World War II. Lance served in Palestine and John died in New Guinea. Both are on the Nyabing War Memorial in the Town Hall. Gordon stayed home as he was manpowered for shearing and farming. In later years Lance became a carpenter, built houses in the wheat belt and lived in Perth. Their sister Doris didn’t marry and lived with their mother.
Gordon Mills was visiting his neighbours, the Jury’s, when he met Joan Campbell Jury (daughter of Will Jury). She was at “The Crescent” visiting her Uncle, Aunt and family. Gordon and Joan were married in 1942 and had three children: Barry William 1943, Helen Lorraine 1948 and myself, Gordon Ross 1951.
Gordon Mills on Fordson with Powell Gas Producer
Barry married Lynn Galloway from Cranbourne, Victoria in 1975. They later divorced. Barry worked for us for 13 years from 1995 and he now works on the Kent Shire. Barry’s partner of about 15 years, Lyn Richardson, lives in Albany. Helen married Goomalling farmer Jim Schell in 1975. They had three children and have since retired to Perth. I married a school teacher (farmer fodder), Heather Mussared in 1988. Our daughter Leonie Kay (1990) has gone to University and will be completing her Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2012. Our son Kenneth Ross (1992) has come home from Narrogin Agricultural School and is enthusiastic to continue the family farm.
Gordon Mills shearing at the Estate of GS Patterson Oct 1938
The only direct descendants of Isaac Mills still farming today in this area, apart from ourselves, are Graeme and Scott Crosby. Ken and I are the only direct descendants of the Shields family farming around Nyabing today.
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